Chile citizens band together

Deaf Smith · March 3, 2010, 10:39 PM

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100303/D9E79BNO2.html

These and hundreds of other survivors of Chile’s devastating earthquake have organized neighborhood watch groups, arming themselves and barricading streets to protect their damaged homes from looters. The groups have stepped in as police were overwhelmed by looting and soldiers were slow to restore order after an earthquake and tsunami.

“We take care of ourselves here,” said 51-year-old Maria Cortes. . . . Throughout the quake zone, survivors lived in fear and fed on rumors of roving mobs. Gunfire punctuated the night in Concepcion, Lota and other towns.

The eruption of banditry shocked the nation and put President Michelle Bachelet on the defensive. Chile’s much-praised urban rescue teams were hampered by slow-to-arrive equipment – and the looting of their local base in Concepcion.

Almost everywhere, citizens have banded together to eat, get water and protect damaged or destroyed homes.

And this is why citizens of the American HAVE GUNS.... As well as the need to know your neighbors. You can imagine what would happen if this occured in California!

KLRANGL · March 3, 2010, 10:48 PM

Quote:

You can imagine what would happen if this occured in California!

Rodney King riots?

G-man 26 · March 4, 2010, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Rodney King riots?

It's funny that you say that in this thread. What I remember most about those riots, is the guy on top of his convenience store with an AK keeping the looting hordes at bay with sporadic gunfire, and average citizens riding on the fire trucks with AR's so the fire fighters could go in and fight fires without being attacked by rioting hordes.

"Can’t we all just get along?"

Yes, yes we can, now put the two-by-four down and back away from the fire truck.

Composer_1777 · March 4, 2010, 12:17 AM

It happened during Katrina; almost everyone has bought arms since then. Luckily the National guard was able to respond.

markj · March 4, 2010, 05:28 PM

In 1975 a severe tornado went thru Omaha, no electricity for months, we banded together and shared what we had. Didnt see one looter then. Time sure have changed.

SilentHitz · March 4, 2010, 06:14 PM

They sure have changed, I remember Camille on the Miss coast...zero looting. People used to have compassion for folks who lost almost everything...now they wanna take what little they have left.

Sad commentary on how "civilized" we have become ain't it?

misnomerga · March 5, 2010, 10:19 AM

I lived through two blackouts in New York City. It was amazing the difference in behavior of the criminal element between the two events. The first time it happened everyone got together and helped one another. In the aftermath police were very pleased that there were hardly any occurences of looting or other crimes. The second blackout was a wholly different animal. It was as if the criminals said "boy we missed a golden opportunity but if it happens again we will be ready." It was as if they trained for it. Sure enough five or six years later another blackout but this time the crooks hit the streets, robbing, breaking windows, and looting. I agree that in times like those the police are stretched so thin it is up to decent citizenry to protect themselves

Big Bill · March 5, 2010, 08:46 PM

If everyone in this country carried a gun, we'd all be much more polite and considerate with each other.

Deaf Smith · March 5, 2010, 09:27 PM

Quote:

If everyone in this country carried a gun, we'd all be much more polite and considerate with each other.

And so did Robert Heinlein. You would love to read his books.

As he said, "An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life."

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/au..._heinlein.html

He was a true libertarian.

Slopemeno · March 5, 2010, 09:53 PM

Well, in the '89 quake the San Francisco Fire Department found itself overwhelmed, and had to rely heavily on civilian volunteers. They ran with that idea after the quake and developed Neighborhood Emergency Response Teams. The training is free. The teams are broken down by neighborhoods. You can probably find the same program locally as NERT, CERT or CORE.

March 3, 2010, 10:39 PM	#1
Deaf Smith Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2000 Location: Texican! Posts: 4,453	Chile citizens band together http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100303/D9E79BNO2.html These and hundreds of other survivors of Chile’s devastating earthquake have organized neighborhood watch groups, arming themselves and barricading streets to protect their damaged homes from looters. The groups have stepped in as police were overwhelmed by looting and soldiers were slow to restore order after an earthquake and tsunami. “We take care of ourselves here,” said 51-year-old Maria Cortes. . . . Throughout the quake zone, survivors lived in fear and fed on rumors of roving mobs. Gunfire punctuated the night in Concepcion, Lota and other towns. The eruption of banditry shocked the nation and put President Michelle Bachelet on the defensive. Chile’s much-praised urban rescue teams were hampered by slow-to-arrive equipment – and the looting of their local base in Concepcion. Almost everywhere, citizens have banded together to eat, get water and protect damaged or destroyed homes. And this is why citizens of the American HAVE GUNS.... As well as the need to know your neighbors. You can imagine what would happen if this occured in California! __________________ “To you who call yourselves ‘men of peace,’ I say, you are not safe without men of action by your side” Thucydides

March 4, 2010, 06:14 PM	#6
SilentHitz Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Ms. Posts: 1,984	They sure have changed, I remember Camille on the Miss coast...zero looting. People used to have compassion for folks who lost almost everything...now they wanna take what little they have left. Sad commentary on how "civilized" we have become ain't it? __________________ Guns don't kill people, husbands who come home early do. http://k5fv.com/

March 5, 2010, 10:19 AM	#7
misnomerga Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 139	They don't miss a second chance I lived through two blackouts in New York City. It was amazing the difference in behavior of the criminal element between the two events. The first time it happened everyone got together and helped one another. In the aftermath police were very pleased that there were hardly any occurences of looting or other crimes. The second blackout was a wholly different animal. It was as if the criminals said "boy we missed a golden opportunity but if it happens again we will be ready." It was as if they trained for it. Sure enough five or six years later another blackout but this time the crooks hit the streets, robbing, breaking windows, and looting. I agree that in times like those the police are stretched so thin it is up to decent citizenry to protect themselves

March 5, 2010, 08:46 PM	#8
Big Bill Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 1,053	If everyone in this country carried a gun, we'd all be much more polite and considerate with each other. __________________ There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wound, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time." - General George Patton Jr

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March 4, 2010, 12:17 AM	#4
Composer_1777 Junior member Join Date: June 30, 2009 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 242	It happened during Katrina; almost everyone has bought arms since then. Luckily the National guard was able to respond.

March 4, 2010, 05:28 PM	#5
markj Senior Member Join Date: October 27, 2005 Location: Crescent Iowa Posts: 2,971	In 1975 a severe tornado went thru Omaha, no electricity for months, we banded together and shared what we had. Didnt see one looter then. Time sure have changed.

March 5, 2010, 09:53 PM	#10
Slopemeno Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2007 Posts: 2,663	Well, in the '89 quake the San Francisco Fire Department found itself overwhelmed, and had to rely heavily on civilian volunteers. They ran with that idea after the quake and developed Neighborhood Emergency Response Teams. The training is free. The teams are broken down by neighborhoods. You can probably find the same program locally as NERT, CERT or CORE.